Japanese destroyer Asashio

nihongo|"Asashio"|朝潮|extra="Morning High Tide" was the lead ship of her class of destroyer in the Imperial Japanese Navy. She was built at the Sasebo Navy Yard. During trials, "Asashio" experienced steering problems and her maneuverability was unacceptable. The "Asashio" class was fitted with a redesigned stern and rudder design to resolve the problem. Other problems, chiefly involving the new and sophisticated 50,000 hp turbines, were also resolved. [cite web
url= http://www.combinedfleet.com/asashi_c.htm
title= "Asashio" Class Destroyers
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accessdate= 2008-02-06 ]

As the flagship of Destroyer Division 8 (Desdiv 8), and a member of Destroyer Squadron 2 (Desron 2), "Asashio's" first wartime mission was escorting Admiral Kondo's Southern Force Main Body out of Mako as distant cover to the Malaya and Philippine Islands invasion forces in December 1941.cite web
url= http://www.combinedfleet.com/asashi_t.htm
title= IJN "Asashio": Tabular Record of Movement
author= Allyn D. Nevitt
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accessdate= 2008-02-06 ] "Asashio" escorted a Malaya troop convoy from Mako towards Singora, then put into Hong Kong on 5 January 1942. She escorted another troop convoy to Davao, and then accompanied the Ambon invasion force (31 January), the Makassar invasion force (8 February) and the Bali/Lombok invasion force (18 February).

Battle of Badoeng Strait

On the night of 19 February 1942, "Asashio" participated in the Battle of Badoeng Strait. "Asashio" was guarding the transport "Sasago Maru" off Bali when an Allied fleet attacked. "Asashio" has been credited with sinking the Dutch destroyer HNLMS "Piet Hein" with a torpedo, plus gunnery hits on the Dutch light cruiser HNLMS "Tromp" and the American destroyer USS "Stewart" (DD-224). "Asashio" suffered light da
Michishio" to Makassar after the battle.

In March, Desdiv 8 returned to Yokosuka. In April, Desdiv 8 was reassigned to Destroyer Squadron 4 (Desron 4). Desron 4 sailed to Manila Bay to assist in the shelling of Corregidor in late April and May 1942.

Battle of Midway

At the Battle of Midway on 4-6 June 1942, "Asashio" and Desron 4 escorted Admiral Kurita's Support Group covering the Midway troop convoy. She suffered medium da
6 June, "Asashio" was hit by one 500-lb (227 kg ) bomb, with 22 dead. She assisted her sister ship "Arashio" in rescuing 240 survivors from the heavy cruiser "Mikuma," then escorted the crippled cruiser "Mogami" into Truk on 14 June. After emergency repairs by the repair ship "Akashi, Asashio" sailed to Sasebo for more extensive repairs on 29 June. She was then reassigned to Desdiv 8.

After a successful supply run to Jaluit and troop transport runs to Guadalcanal in September and October, Desdiv 8 escorted Admiral Mikawa's Support Force during several naval battles near Guadalcanal in November, but did not see combat. On 14 November, "Asashio" assisted the damaged light cruiser "Isuzu". Desdiv 8 then made three troop transport runs to from Rabaul to Buna in late November and early December 1942. After the first, "Asashio" towed the damaged destroyer "Umikaze" back to Rabaul on 21 November. The third run was aborted due to Allied air attack on 8 December; "Asashio" was temporarily disabled by near-misses with bombs off of her stern. The division then made a successful troop transport run to Finschhafen on 18 December.

On 7 January, "Asashio" and Desdiv 8 escorted "Zuikaku," "Mutsu" and "Suzuya" from Truk to Kure, then returned to Truk. On 7 February, Desdiv 8 repeated the escort mission to Kure with the carrier "Chuyo". The division then escorted another convoy from Truk to Rabaul, and a troop transport run from Rabaul to Madang and back. Desdiv 8 was assigned to Destroyer Squadron 3 (Desron 3) on 25 February.

Battle of the Bismarck Sea

On 3 March 1943, "Asashio" and Desron 3 escorted a troop convoy from Rabaul towards Lae. In the Battle of the Bismarck Sea, the convoy was hit by devastating Allied air attacks. After weathering the first waves, "Asashio" was bombed later in the day while attempting to rescue survivors from the "Arashio" and "Nojima". She was lost with all hands, 45 mi (85 km) southeast of Finschhafen, New Guinea (coord|07|15|S|148|15|E). Among the casualties was the commander of Desdiv 8, Capt. Yasuo Sato.

Commanding officers

*Chief Equipping Officer - Lt. Cmdr. Narita Moichi - 16 November 1936 - 31 August 1937
*Lt. Cmdr. Narita Moichi - 31 August 1937 - 1 December 1937
*Lt. Cmdr. / Cmdr. Wakida Kiichiro - 1 December 1937 - 15 December 1938 (Promoted to Commander on 15 November 1938.)
*Lt. Cmdr. Yokoi Minoru - 15 December 1938 - 15 October 1940
*Lt. Cmdr. Yoshii Gorou - 15 October 1940 - 3 March 1943 (KIA)

ee also

*List of World War II ships

References

External links

* [http://www.combinedfleet.com/asashi_c.htm CombinedFleet.com: "Asashio"-class destroyers]
* [http://www.combinedfleet.com/asashi_t.htm CombinedFleet.com: "Asashio" history]
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/japan/asashio-dd.htm GlobalSecurity.org: "Asashio" class destroyers]
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/japan/asashio-dd-unit.htm GlobalSecurity.org: "Asashio" class ship list]
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/japan/asashio-dd-schem.htm GlobalSecurity.org: "Asashio" class schematics]
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/japan/asashio-dd-specs.htm GlobalSecurity.org: "Asashio" class specifications]